Would you buy a Monstro now?

[Neil Abeynayake]

Have you spoken with someone at RED about repair options for legacy cameras? Seems like you have not. RED would repair or offer other options to all of their customers/users. Just because Nikon appropriated RED has NOT changed their core ideology.

Christopher Nolan uses old IMAX film technology to tell stories, while others use the "Big-Sky camera" to showcase their vision, depending on their projection.

Like I stated earlier, camera IS a tool. How to use it to tell a story is up to the director and their DP.

If in doubt, watch Academy award-winning movies like the "Gladiator" which was filmed between ISO 7 ~ 8.6 range. Modern Digital Cinema cameras offers waaaaay over this dynamic range. It doesn't mean that people are creating that many masterpieces with this technology, just because it is now in the range of those who can afford less of an expenditure making their movies.

 

[Alex Zeder]

You are right that it is possible to shoot masterpieces with a Monstro even in this year now, but that wasn't the topic of this thread so far. It was about reflecting on considerations about "Downsides?" when buying one now. And whether this is still a reliable option. If the answer to this is, Yes, it’s still reliable, check your repair options with RED support, then that would be a valuable contribution.

But turning this into an accusation that someone who asks this question lacks the knowledge, skills and understanding for using a camera to get something good out of it, sorry but that’s quite a bit “off topic”, at least.

 

[PatrickWebb]

I would get a Monstro brain for sure! What is there to lose? I feel you would have everything to gain, especially being creative (or technical), you can then capture buttery-beautiful images! I think the risk is very low too and the RED cameras, in my experience, are rock solid. The fans are a bit noisy, but that´s about it. I´ve been using them since DSMC1 Epic and with the DSMC2 in my workflow for specific jobs that require the use of a RED camera.

Personally, I would be using the Monstro for more creative works and when I want to get those nice portraits, both motion and still. I still use the Raven for a lot of event run and gun work and have put that machine though it´s paces. I have used my Epic-W Helium for pretty much all of my narrative work and my old Mysterium-X Epic-X for music videos and some narrative work as well as portraits. It all depends on what brush you want to use on your canvas these days. We have all the choice in the world really.

Good luck!